Folding table



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F. R. GREYSON FOLDING .TABLE Filed May 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR TORNEY 28, 1936. I F. R. GREYSON 2,038,838

FOLD ING TABLE Filed May 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Q B oielDQ0d 3 me Patented Apr. I 28, 1936 UNITED STATES FATE NT OFFIE '7 Claims.

This invention is a folding table of the type designed to be extendedfrom a suitable storage compartment.

'One of the objectsof the invention is to provide a table of thecharacter mentioned, so constructed and arranged as to be folded andstored within a small space, whereby it is adapted for use on railwaycoaches and in other places of limited floor space. A further object isto provide a folding table capable of being compactly folded into a verysmall space when not in use, but so constructed and arranged that it maybe readily extended to substantial dimensions for practical use. Afurther object is to provide a table which while in extended conditionwill be rigid in construction and capable of sustaining substantialweights without sagging. A further object is to provide a folding tablewhich is constructed in such manner as to obviate the necessity ofproviding any sort of support independently of the table itself, forholding the same in extended relation.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view illustrating a table constructed inaccordance with the invention, with the table in extended position.Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in cross section. Figure 3 .is avertical cross sectional View showing the table in folded position.Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view illustrating the table topconstruction. Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary sectional View on theline 55, of Figure 4. Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional viewtaken on the line 66 of Figure 5. Figure 7 is an enlarged detail viewpartly in section showing the link connection employed in the horizontaland vertical segments forming the top and sides of the table. Figure 8is a detail plan view partly in section of one of the table top segmentsshowing the complementary engagement with adjacent side segments. Figure9 is a detail side elevation of a portion of the segments shown inFigure 8. Figure 10 is a detail side view of the mechanism for lockingthe table in extended position. Figure 11 is a plan view of the lockingbar. Figure 12 is a detail view of one of the spring rollers formingpart of the invention. Fig. 13 is an end View of Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings, l 0 designates a cabinet which may be securedto a vertical wall, such as the wall of a railway coach indicated at ll.Disposed within the cabinet I0 and rotatably mounted therein is ahorizontal roller 12 and two vertically disposed rollers I3 arrangedadjacent the ends of the roller I0. These rollers are all of the springimpelled type illustrated in Figure 12, in which the roller is providedwith a spring It by means of which a reacting tension is applied to theroller when rotated in one direction and the reaction of the springcauses the roller to rotate in the other direction. The rollers aremounted in suitable brackets [5 such as shown in Figure 1.

Connected to lugs IE on the periphery of the roller 52 is a table top Tformed of a plurality of flexibly connected members I1, said membersbeing connected by links l8 having their ends pivotally connected to themembers by pins I9, the

links l8 fitting in suitable recesses so that they lie flush with theunderside of the table top when the parts are in extended relation. Tothe outer end of the table and to the last member IT is connected arigid end portion 20 which abuts against the front wall of the casing H]when the table is in retracted position.

Connected with each of the rollers I3 are side walls 2| and 22, eachconsisting of a plurality of members 23 flexibly connected by linkssimilar to the links it illustrated in Figure 7, and already describedwith respect to the top of the table. The outermost members 23 of theside members are also connected with the rigid end member 29.

In order to provide for a rigid detachable connection between the top Tand the sides 2| and 22, the members I! are provided with projectingteeth 25 which extend from the opposite ends thereof and are sopositioned as to engage sockets 26 formed in the upper ends of theadjacent links of the sides 2| and 22. The teeth 25 engage with theinclined surfaces of the sockets 26 as the table sections are drawn outof the compartment, by a pull exerted on the end member 20, and providea rigid frictional engagement between the sides and top of the table, ofsuch a character as to obviate the use of any extraneous supportinglegs. 7

Provision is made for locking the table in any desired extendedposition. This feature comprises a locking lever 21 provided with slots28 through which extend pins 29 fixed to the cabinet and projectingforwardly from the front edge of the lower wall of the cabinet. By thisarrangement the bar 21 may be moved in a rectilinear directiontransversely of the table. Said bar is provided with projections 30complemental to recesses or slots 3| in the lower ends of the sidemembers 2| and 22, so that when the bar is shifted in one direction theenlargements will be engaged in the slots and hold the table againstretraction by the return tension of the spring rollers.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art to which it belongs. For instance it is clear that avery simple form of extensible folding table is provided, in which theparts are capable of being so engaged as to provide a rigid structurewhile in extended position, and yet be stored in a compartment out ofthe way when not in use. Another advantage is that the table may beextended to its fullest limit, or to any intermediate limit atwill andwhatever portion is extended is main- :tained in rigid operativeposition. The top and side wall members may be constructed in any,

suitable manner but it is preferable that the same be constructed ofwood having metal ends as clearly shown in Figures 8 and 9 of thedrawings.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described anoperative manner of constructing and using the same, although with outattemptingto set'forth all "of the forms in which it may be made, orallof the forms of its use, what is claimed is: V V

l. A folding table comprising a sectional top,

I sectional side'members on opposite sides of the top, spring tensionedrollers upon which said sectional top and'side members are respectivelywindable, means providing interengagement between the top and sidemembers as they are moved to unfolded position, and means for holdingsaid members in extended position. r

2. ,A folding table comprising a sectional top, sectional side memberson opposite sides of the top, spring tensioned rollers upon which saidsec-c tional top and side members are respectively windable, meansproviding interengagement between the top and side members as they aremoved to unfolded position, a rigid endlmember con tions havingcomplemental portions providing rigid engagement of said sections duringthe time that the table is in extended relation.

4. A folding table comprising a top formed of flexibly connectedsections, projections on the ends thereof, side members formed offlexibly connected sections, each section having a recess complementalto one of said projections of the top sections, spring tensioned rollersupon which said sectional top and side members are respectivelywindable, and means for holding the table in extended unwound position.

5. A folding table comprising a sectional top, sectional side members onopposite sides of the top, spring tensioned rollers upon which saidsectional top and side members are respectively wind able, meansproviding interengagement between the top and side members as they aremoved to unfolded position, and alocking bar mounted to V V movetransversely with respect to said table, each side member having meansfor" engagement with saidlockingbar; V Y 1' T 6. A folding tablecomprising a sectional top, sectional side members on opposite sides ofthe top, spring tensioned rollers upon which said sec!- tional top andside members are respectively windable, means providing interengagementbe-' tween the top and side members'as they are moved to unfoldedposition, said'side members 'having slots in their lower ends, and a barmounted to slide transversely with respect to saidtable and havingenlargements complemental to said slots, said bar being constructed andarranged to hold said table to any adjusted extended posi-i tion. a

7. In a table, means providing a compartment,

a horizontal spring tensioned roller rotatably V mounted in saidcompartment, a sectional table top connected at one end to said rollerin such manner that it may be wound thereon, a pair of vertical springtensioned rollers also rotatably' mounted in said compartment, sectionalside members each connected at one end toa vertical roller insuch'manner that they may be wound thereon, meansprovidinginterengagement of the top and side members while in extendedrelation,

and means for holding said table in extended position. 7

FREDERICK R. GREYSON

